Remote Distributed Systems Engineer Position in the USA

Netflix’s Data Platform teams play a pivotal role in driving the company’s data-driven culture, facilitating the seamless collection, management and analysis of massive volumes of data. These teams empower various business units with robust, scalable and centralized data infrastructure to make informed decisions that enhance the viewer experience.

By building and maintaining data tools that handle everything from streaming connectors to exabyte-scale data warehouses, the teams make complex data easily accessible and actionable. This extensive data ecosystem supports critical business functions, from content recommendations to operational analytics, ensuring Netflix remains the industry leader in entertainment services.

The teams focus on areas such as Big Data Warehousing, Online Data Stores and Data Movement Platforms, all tailored to meet Netflix’s high-performance needs. For instance, the Big Data Warehouse team optimizes data storage using Iceberg which has become an industry standard while the Online Data Stores team manages scalable caching and relational databases for operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Data Movement Platform enables seamless integration of data across systems, using technologies like Spark, Kafka and Flink. Collectively, these teams push the boundaries of innovation in distributed systems, contributing to open-source projects and ensuring that Netflix’s infrastructure can scale to meet the demands of its global audience.

The Position

The Data Platform teams at Netflix play a crucial role in harnessing the power of data to create exceptional experiences for our subscribers. We deliver centralized platforms and data tools that empower various business segments within Netflix, enabling them to leverage critical data for informed, data-driven decision-making. Our job involves managing complex tasks behind the scenes to facilitate the secure, efficient and ethical handling of data for our partners. We aim to establish a benchmark in the industry by developing a state-of-the-art data infrastructure, just as Netflix leads the charge in global internet entertainment.

Our team is seeking distributed systems engineers to continue driving our infrastructure evolution and innovation. We are dedicated to building a team that embraces diversity and inclusivity, welcoming unique perspectives as we tackle future challenges. We also offer flexibility for remote candidates within the United States. What matters most to us is what you can contribute, no matter where you are.

Focus on Data Platform Teams

Big Data Warehouse and Iceberg Team

This team is responsible for managing Netflix’s massive data warehouse which operates on an exabyte scale. The team develops and maintains foundational services that support the management of critical core tables, serving various needs related to analytics, reporting and data-based decisions. They ensure that query engines have streamlined access to these datasets, provide secure data access and store this information efficiently in S3 using the Iceberg table format.

The focus extends to optimizing compute, storage and network costs, ensuring data efficiency and alignment with Netflix’s standards and compliance requirements. The team also continues to enhance the Iceberg format (which originated at Netflix and is now widely adopted in the industry) and actively contributes to open-source initiatives.

Online Data Stores – Caching, Relational & Search

The Online Data Stores team at Netflix manages data store solutions at scale to meet the company’s operational data needs across all business units. They support various data store types including Caching, Relational, Search, Key-Value and Composite abstractions while focusing on maintaining high performance, dependability and resource efficiency.

They also prioritize developer productivity by delivering secure and user-friendly access layers. The team’s areas of specialization include caching data stores such as EVCache (memcached) and Redis, relational databases like RDS, Aurora and CockroachDB as well as search solutions using Opensearch. Moreover, they work on next-generation AI storage solutions related to Retrieval Augmented Generation.

Data Movement Platform – Connectors Team

The Data Movement Connector team manages an array of data connectors that enable both batch and streaming data transfers by linking data repositories to our comprehensive data movement products for further processing.

This team builds a versatile data connector platform that allows other teams to develop their own connectors efficiently. Technologies used include Spark for batch processing and Kafka and Flink for streaming. They work with databases like Cassandra and PostgreSQL, handle Change Data Capture (CDC) events, manage control planes, design connectors and automate operations.

This Role Could Be Your Dream Job If You Are Excited About:

• Addressing real-world business needs at scale using your software engineering expertise and problem-solving abilities.
• Designing and developing a scalable, robust and highly available distributed infrastructure.
• Driving cross-functional projects and collaborating closely with product managers, engineers and technical program managers.
• Sharing experiences with the broader open-source community and contributing to Netflix OSS projects.

Your Profile

• Experience: You have over two years of experience building large-scale distributed systems or developing key features.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in designing and building RESTful web services and capable of creating and operating fault-tolerant, scalable distributed systems.
• Programming Languages: Strong knowledge of Java or another object-oriented language.
• Concurrency: Confident in addressing challenges related to multi-threading.
• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.

Additional Insights About Our Team

Our team is a melting pot of individuals from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, ranging from the humanities to engineering and computer science. We comprise product managers, program managers, designers, full-stack developers, data scientists and distributed systems engineers. We encourage flexibility, allowing team members to explore different roles and responsibilities. This rich diversity has shaped a welcoming, inclusive and empathetic work environment and we eagerly anticipate how your background and perspective will enhance our team.

Compensation and Benefits

Netflix structures its compensation uniquely, focusing exclusively on an annual salary without additional bonuses. Every year, employees have the option to determine their preferred salary-to-stock ratio. Our approach to compensation is based on staying competitive in the market. We use various indicators, including job family, background, skills and experience, to calculate the optimal compensation within a market range. The salary range for this role is between $170,000 and $720,000.

Our benefits package is extensive, covering health plans, mental health support, a 401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions, a stock option program, disability coverage, health savings and flexible spending accounts, family-planning benefits and life and accident insurance. We also offer paid leave options with salaried employees eligible for flexible time off immediately while hourly employees accrue 35 days annually to use for vacation, holidays and sick leave.

Our Unique Culture

Netflix has cultivated a distinct workplace culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe that teams built on varied thoughts, backgrounds and experiences are inherently stronger. Our commitment to inclusivity is genuine and deliberate as we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive.

APPLY NOW

We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, genetic traits, marital status or military service. Netflix welcomes individuals from all walks of life and we are committed to ensuring that every employee feels respected and valued.

If you are passionate about data and wish to be part of a company that places innovation, inclusivity and collaboration at its core, we would love to hear from you. Netflix continues to shape the future of global entertainment and you could play a pivotal role in our journey to bring joy to millions worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What technical skills are required for this role?
Candidates need proficiency in distributed systems, RESTful web service design, object-oriented programming (e.g., Java) and experience in building fault-tolerant, scalable infrastructure. Comfort with multi-threading challenges is also essential.

Is this a remote position?
Yes, Netflix offers remote opportunities for candidates based anywhere in the United States. The company values the work you can do from any location and supports flexible work arrangements.

What is the compensation structure for this role?
Netflix provides an annual salary with no additional bonuses. Employees can choose their salary-to-stock ratio each year and compensation is based on market indicators, job family, skills and experience. The salary range for this role is between $170,000 and $720,000.

Does Netflix offer benefits in addition to the salary?
Yes, Netflix offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health plans, mental health support, a 401(k) plan with employer match, stock options, disability programs, family-forming benefits, flexible paid time off and more.

What is the culture like at Netflix?
Netflix has a unique and inclusive culture that values diversity and collaboration. The company believes in bringing together people with varied backgrounds to build stronger teams and fosters an environment where employees feel respected and valued.

Will I have opportunities to contribute to open-source projects?
Yes, the Data Platform team actively contributes to open-source communities. For example, Netflix has developed technologies like Iceberg which have become industry standards and they encourage team members to engage in open-source development.

What kind of data stores does the Online Data Stores team manage?
The Online Data Stores team handles a variety of data stores including caching systems like EVCache and Redis, relational databases like RDS and CockroachDB and search solutions like Opensearch. They focus on building high-performance, scalable and secure systems.

What does Netflix look for in candidates for this role?
Netflix seeks candidates with at least two years of experience in building distributed systems, a strong foundation in software engineering and the ability to solve complex technical challenges. The company values a collaborative mindset and a passion for innovation.